In Canada, a newly established startup named SeaGreen Solutions Ltd. has partnered with the City of Fredericton to launch a horticultural pilot project exploring the efficacy of seaweed-derived biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More. Co-founded by a doctoral student from the University of New Brunswick, the company utilizes pyrolysisPyrolysis is a thermochemical process that converts waste biomass into bio-char, bio-oil, and pyro-gas. It offers significant advantages in waste valorization, turning low-value materials into economically valuable resources. Its versatility allows for tailored products based on operational conditions, presenting itself as a cost-effective and efficient More to convert local Atlantic kelp into a specialized soil amendmentA soil amendment is any material added to the soil to enhance its physical or chemical properties, improving its suitability for plant growth. Biochar is considered a soil amendment as it can improve soil structure, water retention, nutrient availability, and microbial activity.   More. The municipal government is integrating this material into downtown flower pots to evaluate its impact on urban landscaping infrastructure. This collaboration seeks to validate the commercial and environmental viability of processing marine biomassBiomass is a complex biological organic or non-organic solid product derived from living or recently living organism and available naturally. Various types of wastes such as animal manure, waste paper, sludge and many industrial wastes are also treated as biomass because like natural biomass these More to enhance urban soil systems.

The primary challenge addressed by the municipality and the startup centers on regional soil quality limitations and the escalating operational strains of urban landscape management. Horticultural departments in New Brunswick routinely contend with highly clay-like soils that exhibit poor moisture retention and a high susceptibility to localized drought conditions. Maintaining public flora under these conditions requires frequent, resource-intensive watering schedules that inflate municipal expenditures. Furthermore, standard landscaping practices frequently depend on heavy fertilizer applications to offset nutrient deficiencies, which creates additional long-term financial and environmental burdens for city operations.

To resolve these issues, SeaGreen Solutions Ltd. provides a tailored solution by subjecting harvested Atlantic kelp to enclosed pyrolysis, thereby transforming it into a nutrient-dense biochar. Unlike traditional wood-based alternatives, this marine-sourced amendment naturally retains ocean-derived minerals, including magnesium and potassium, which are critical for plant development. When incorporated into the soil matrix, the porous structure of the material physically locks in moisture and essential nutrients, creating a stable medium that releases these elements gradually. The City of Fredericton has deployed this material within its horticultural pilot program to systematically assess its water-retention capabilities.

The implementation of this seaweed-derived biochar pilot project introduces measurable operational advantages for municipal resource management. Successful water and nutrient retention allow the city’s horticulture department to significantly reduce irrigation frequencies, thereby lowering municipal operating costs and mitigating the impact of regional drought conditions. By optimizing resource application, the city can redeploy labor and equipment to other essential public works projects. Additionally, the validated performance of the amendment positions SeaGreen Solutions Ltd. to scale up production and expand the utilization of Atlantic seaweed for large-scale agricultural and municipal applications across the province.